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The Safdarjung’s tomb was constructed in 1753-54 by Safdarjung’s son, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah.
This tomb is in the midst of a garden that has an area of 300 square meters and there is another tomb in this garden which is gauged to be of Safdarjung’s wife’s.
The tomb is a representation of the final phase of Mughal architecture and is similar in pattern to Humayun’s tomb.
Buff stone and red sandstone are used in the construction of the tomb where the central chamber is enclosed by eight rooms of which the corner rooms are octagonal in shape while the remaining rooms are rectangular.
The dome of the tomb has a sixteen sided base. On the sides of the tomb there are beautiful pavilions called as “Badshah Pasand” or “the Emperor’s favorite”, “Jangli Mahal” or “The Sylvan palace” and “Moti Mahal” or “The Pearl palace.”
Life and career
Safdarjung was born as Muhammad Muqim in Khurasan, Persia and migrated to India in 1722.
The Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah gave him the title of "Safdarjung".
Safdarjung was an able administrator. He was not only effective in keeping control of Oudh, but also managed to render valuable assistance to the weakened Muhammad Shah. He was soon given governorship of Kashmir as well, and became a central figure at the Delhi court. During the later years of Muhammad Shah, he gained complete control of administration in the Mughal Empire.
Architecture of the Tomb
 After the death of Aurangazeb, the only significant structures raised were the Tomb of Safdarjung. Safdarjung's Tomb (Safdarjang ka Maqbara) is a garden tomb in a marble mausoleum in Delhi, India. It was built in 1754 in the style of late Mughal architecture. The garden, in the style evolved by the Mughal Empire that is now known as the Mughal gardens style influenced by Persian style Charbagh ('four sections'),is entered through an ornate gate. Its facade is decorated with elaborate plaster carvings.
The tomb was built for Safdarjung, the powerful prime minister of Muhammad Shah who was the weak Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748. In fact, it was Emperor Muhammad Shah who gave him the title of 'Safdarjung'. The central tomb has a huge dome. There are four water canals leading to four buildings. One has an ornately decorated gateway while the other three are pavilions, with living quarters built into the walls. Octagonal towers are in the corners. The canals are four oblong tanks, one on each side of the tomb.
Last Flicker in the Lamp of Mughal Architecture
Both Safdarjung and his wife's graves are also places within the four walls of the tomb area. Safdarjung Tomb, which is referred to as the "Last flicker in the lamp of Mughal Architecture" stands in the centre of an huge garden on a high terrace. This historically significant tomb has four buildings and all of them are very remarkable and the entrance to the tomb is also magnificent. The tomb has a beautiful Mughal Garden at the front, known as Charbagh.
Location
The Safdarjung’s tomb is situated at Lodi Road, New Delhi.
The top story of the edifice houses the Archaeological Survey of India.
Source: Wikipedia
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